Fairy, please don't do this!

But now, they came together, one standing on the left and the other on the right.

Cao Jinyan nodded slightly, without exchanging any pleasantries, and said directly, "His Majesty has decreed that Gu Jinchao, the commander of the White Tiger Guard, be summoned to the palace immediately for an audience."

Jing Shu's voice was soft yet clear as she continued Cao Jinyan's words: "By imperial decree of the Empress Dowager, summon Commander Gu to report to Jinglan Palace."

The two imperial edicts arrived almost simultaneously.

One came from the current emperor, and the other from the current empress dowager.

Inside the duty room, several captains who heard these words held their breath and turned their eyes to Gu Jinzhao.

Whether it's the Emperor or the Empress Dowager, they represent the two highest wills of the Cangyue Dynasty.

It is unprecedented for a captain to be summoned at the same time.

But the problem is, there's only one Gu Jinchao!

Therefore, only one of the two can be chosen first.

If Gu Jinchao chooses the Empress Dowager, he will inevitably offend the Emperor!

If one chooses the Emperor, one will surely offend the Empress Dowager.

This should have been a joyous occasion, but now it has turned into a disaster.

Gu Jinzhao stood still, his gaze shifting from Cao Jinyan's old face to Jing Shu.

Then, without any hesitation, he slowly walked to Jing Shu, who was standing on the right, his voice calm and emotionless: "Your subject Gu Jinchao obeys the decree."

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Only the occasional chirp of a morning bird flitting past the window accentuated the deathly stillness of the room.

Several captains stared wide-eyed.

Although Gu Jinzhao did not say whose decree he was receiving, it was obvious to everyone that the other party had chosen the Empress Dowager.

Cao Jinyan's face, which was as calm as an ancient well, twitched almost imperceptibly, so quickly it was like an illusion.

"If that's the case, then I'll return to the palace to report back."

Having said that, he said no more, turned around and left the duty room silently, just as he had come, his figure quickly disappearing into the misty corridor at the end.

"Commander Gu, come with me!"

Upon seeing this, Jing Shu's red lips curled slightly, and she got up and walked outside.

She admired Gu Jinzhao's unwavering decision to stand on the right.

Hesitation is a major taboo!

Clearly, the other party understood this, so they directly chose the Empress Dowager.

Gu Jinchao followed and walked out of the Demon Suppression Bureau. He saw a magnificent sedan chair parked in front of the gate, with four palace maids standing quietly beside it.

"Commander Gu, please!"

Jing Shu lifted the sedan curtain.

Gu Jinchao remained calm as he stepped into the sedan chair.

Jing Shu turned and left. The sedan chair rose into the air and followed behind her, covering dozens of feet in a single step, disappearing from the spot in the blink of an eye.

The journey was smooth and unimpeded, and we soon entered the palace and arrived at the Jinglan Hall!

"arrive!"

"Commander Gu, please go in. The Empress Dowager is already waiting for you inside."

The sedan chair stopped, and Jing Shu lifted the curtain.

This kind of honor is probably only enjoyed by Empress Dowager Xiao Qingyi and Gu Jinchao.

As the Empress Dowager's personal lady-in-waiting, Jing Shu's status was undeniably high.

Even the most powerful officials in the imperial court had to show him respect.

As his thoughts wandered, Gu Jinzhao cupped his hands in greeting to Jing Shu, then stepped into the main hall.

Passing through layers of curtains, one could see a graceful figure dressed in a phoenix dress sitting on a phoenix couch.

Gu Jinchao approached, but was slightly taken aback.

Because Xiao Qingyi was wearing a half-mask that looked like it was made of lace, with only a pair of imposing phoenix eyes showing on the upper half of her face.

The lower half of her face featured a high, delicate nose and luscious red lips.

Chapter 124, "You think I wouldn't dare kill you?" (3K)

Gu Jinchao bowed and greeted the Empress Dowager: "Gu Jinchao, Commander of the Military Supervisory Office, greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"

Xiao Qingyi put on a mask, which was not unexpected.

After all, in the realm of the mind, he was not only killed twice as a demon, but also bound and ravaged, leaving behind that extremely shameful CG.

If we met in real life and he recognized me, I would be dead on the spot.

Of course, Xiao Qingyi didn't wear the half-face mask entirely because of him.

This item is called the "Myriad Aspects of Starry Glass," and it is a magical artifact that can be described as a "jack-of-all-trades."

It can not only transform into clothing and weapons according to the wearer's thoughts, but also completely conceal the wearer's cultivation level and karmic destiny.

It was precisely because of this treasure that the leader of the Earth Sect was unable to deduce Xiao Qingyi's true cultivation level, and was ultimately caught off guard.

As for the origin of this celestial artifact, it can be traced back to the ancestor of the Xiao family—Xiao Renhuang.

The Human Emperor, naturally, is the emperor who unified the human race and founded a dynasty.

He, along with Sword Ancestor and Life Saint, were all legendary figures of the same era.

Xiao Qingyi was able to reach the first-grade perfection of martial arts at such a young age and was hailed as the "Cangyue Martial Goddess". In addition to her unparalleled talent in cultivation, she also revived her bloodline power with the help of the [Myriad Stars].

And ever since then, she has worn this half-face mask.

Apart from Jing Shu, her personal maid who had been with her since childhood, no one else in the world had ever seen her true face.

But Gu Jinchao is an exception.

She was unable to use the power of the [Myriad Forms Star Glass] within the realm of her mind.

The reason is simple: the Destiny Plate and the Destiny Plate are both celestial artifacts, and they are mutually exclusive and cannot coexist.

"Do you know why I summoned you?"

Xiao Qingyi's voice came from behind the mask, clear and cold like frost, completely different from what was heard in the Heart Realm.

Clearly, this was done intentionally.

"This humble servant is unaware."

Gu Jinchao stood with his head bowed in the hall, about three zhang away from the phoenix bed, maintaining a respectful posture.

Looking directly at someone is a great disrespect.

However, she did not sit upright like ordinary palace concubines, but leaned against the couch in a languid yet dignified posture.

As a result, the hem of her elaborate and luxurious phoenix dress slipped down slightly, revealing a pair of phoenix clogs adorned with pearls and a section of her fair and jade-like calves.

Gu Jinzhao's gaze inadvertently swept over that section of calf.

Although it was only for a moment, Xiao Qingyi noticed it, and her toes, wrapped in her stockings, curled up subconsciously.

Thinking of how that audacious little thief in her mind had so brazenly defiled her feet, she felt a surge of shame and anger, and her tone suddenly turned cold:

"From sweeping through the younger generation of the Zen Realm at the Six Sects Heroes Gathering, to joining the Demon Suppression Division as a White Tiger Guard and offending the Zhao family, to now siding with me."

"Could all of this have been your scheme?"

Everything that happened in the military supervisor's residence just now did not escape her perception.

Gu Jinzhao's decision to choose her without hesitation and abandon Emperor Yongxing aroused her suspicion.

Gu Jinchao remained silent for a moment, then said frankly, "It was indeed my intention to do so."

He was actually somewhat helpless.

Looking up directly at someone is disrespectful, but if you stand with your head down, your gaze will inevitably fall on what's below.

Xiao Qingyi narrowed her phoenix eyes, hidden behind the mask, a hint of inquiry flashing in them: "Why?"

Gu Jinzhao did not hide anything: "I want to ask Your Majesty for a promise."

As an inner disciple of the Qingyun Sect, he joined the Imperial Court's Demon Suppression Division.

If it's merely to hone one's swordsmanship, it's unlikely to gain people's trust; it's better to reveal part of the true intention.

In this way, he could gain Xiao Qingyi's trust and lay the groundwork for his future acquisition of the Heavenly Stems Mirror.

Xiao Qingyi rested her slender hand on her smooth, jade-like cheek, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips: "What promise?"

"It's not time to say yet." Gu Jinchao slowly shook his head: "If I say it now, I'm afraid Her Majesty will not agree."

"But I can guarantee that what I ask for will never harm Your Majesty's interests, nor will it make Your Majesty do anything against your conscience."

The matter of the Heavenly Stems Mirror must not be exposed at the moment.

Otherwise, Xiao Qingyi would have immediately guessed that he had already discovered her identity back in the Heart Realm.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qingyi gave him a meaningful look, but did not respond to the promise. Instead, she said, "You handled the matter of Baihua County quite well."

"It is my duty, and I dare not take credit for it."

Gu Jinzhao spoke calmly and neither servilely nor arrogantly.

Xiao Qingyi glanced at him and softened her tone slightly: "The Underworld God Cult is deeply rooted, and Dugu Wang is nothing more than a pawn."

"What I want is not the life of a single pawn, but to uproot them completely and eradicate them entirely."

"It would be difficult to accomplish this by one person alone."

"Therefore, I need more capable people."

At this point, she paused slightly, her gaze falling on Gu Jinchao: "Gu Jinchao, are you willing to pledge your loyalty to me?"

The loyalty she spoke of was loyalty to her personally, not to the Cangyue Dynasty!

Gu Jinzhao remained silent for a moment before speaking: "I am a disciple of the Qingyun Sect!"

He truly wanted to gain her trust and become her confidant in order to obtain the [Heavenly Stems Mirror].

But you can't be too eager to show it.

Otherwise, given this woman's suspicious nature, she would surely become distrustful.

Xiao Qingyi gave a soft "Oh," and then asked meaningfully, "So, in your opinion, how does the Qingyun Sect compare to the Cangyue Dynasty?"

Gu Jinzhao did not make a direct comparison, but simply stated the facts: "The Cangyue Dynasty governs five states, with a vast and boundless territory."

"Although the Qingyun Sect is a major sect in the Dao Realm, it only occupies a corner of Qingzhou."

Xiao Qingyi's long, slender legs were elegantly crossed beneath her skirt, and her fingertips tapped lightly on the edge of the couch: "If that's the case, why are you unwilling to leave the sect and serve me wholeheartedly?"

Water flows downhill, and people strive to rise higher.

"With your intelligence, you shouldn't be unaware of this principle."

Gu Jinzhao understood the deeper meaning in her words, took a deep breath, and looked up to meet her gaze: "This humble servant understands Your Majesty's meaning."

"But the Qingyun Sect has shown me the kindness of imparting knowledge and teaching me skills, and has nurtured and cultivated me. If I were to abandon the sect and turn to the imperial court, how would that be any different from being ungrateful?"

Xiao Qingyi parted her red lips slightly: "As far as I know, during your years in the Qingyun Sect, your nominal master has never paid any attention to you and has been a mere figurehead."

"The only one who truly taught you the way of the sword and took good care of you was the Fifth Elder, Yu Fengzhi."

"And now, isn't she also in the Demon Suppression Division?"

"If she is willing, I can also grant her high-ranking positions and generous salaries, and I will never treat her poorly in the slightest."

Clearly, Yu Fengzhi's disguise as "Jiang Tinglan" and infiltrating the Demon Suppression Division had not escaped her notice.

Gu Jinzhao shook his head: "Qingyun Sect is my uncle's home and her roots. She will not abandon the sect for wealth and glory."

Xiao Qingyi snorted coldly, and an invisible pressure suddenly descended, as if the temperature in the hall had dropped several degrees: "You're unwilling to do this, unwilling to do that, yet you dare to ask me for a promise?"

Gu Jinchao felt an immense force pressing down on him like a mountain, his face turned pale, and a muffled groan escaped his throat.

His bones crackled softly, and his knees buckled, almost causing him to collapse to the ground.